been  developed  to  support  the  Command Religious  Program  at  sea.  The  RP  needs  to  be familiar with the ordering procedures for obtain- ing any materials that may be necessary to sup- port  the  CRP  aboard  ship. HISTORY  OF  THE  RELIGIOUS PROGRAM  SPECIALIST  (RP)  RATING As  previously  stated,  the  Religious  Program Specialist  (RP)  rating  was  officially  established on  15  January  1979.  However,  the  concept  of chaplain’s  assistant  dates  back  to  1878  when  a committee  of  chaplains  recommended  to  the Navy  Department  that  a  chaplain’s  assistant  be assigned   to   each   ship   that   had   a   chaplain assigned.  This  assistant  would  have  been  a schoolmaster  who  could  play  organ  music  and lead  singing.  Although  the  recommendation  was not adopted, the idea was given support by suc- cessive  generations  of  chaplains. THE  CHAPLAIN’S  SPECIALIST Early in 1942 the Navy Department took the first steps which led to the establishment of the “Specialist  (W)”  rating  for  chaplain’s  assistant, The  (W)  referred  to  welfare  and  it  was  decided that  this  rate  would  be  established  only  for  the duration   of   World   War   II.   The   first   officially designated  chaplain’s  assistant  in  the  history  of the  Navy  was  W.  Everett  Hendricks  who  was authorized  to  enlist  on  23  April  1942  with  the rating  of  Specialist  (W)  first  class.  Hendricks was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  chaplain’s  office  of the   Naval   Training   Station,   Great   Lakes, Illinois.  He  was  a  talented  musician  and  choir leader  and  had  much  to  do  with  the  success  of the  famed  Great  Lakes’  Bluejacket  Choir. The first publicity that was given to the new rating  by  the  Bureau  of  Naval  Personnel  (now Naval   Military   Personnel   Command)   actually appeared  in  a  directive  dated  25  June  1942 addressed  to  the  Navy  Recruiting  Service. Eleven  specialist  ratings  were  identified  in  this directive  including  Welfare  or  chaplain’s  assist- ant.  Those  interested  in  Specialist  (W)  were directed  to  obtain  information  regarding  specific qualifications  from  the  Chief  of  Chaplains. This  directive  was  followed  by  a  circular prepared and distributed by the Chaplains Divi- sion  which  outlined  the  required  qualifications for Specialist (W). A college education was iden- tified  as  being  desirable  for  applicants  but  not absolutely  necessary.  Every  Specialist  (W)  had to  be  able  to  play  the  piano  and  organ  for religious services and other gatherings. Also, the Specialist  (W)  was  expected  to  be  a  competent choir  director. Just as RPs today cannot exercise any of the ministerial   functions   of   a   clergyperson,   a Specialist  (W)  was  not  expected  to  serve  as  a religious  leader.  The  circular  stated  specifically that  the  specialist  should  be  willing  to  serve anywhere  and  under  any  conditions. Accepted  applicants  under  25  years  of  age were given a third class rating; those between 25 and  28  were  given  second  class;  and,  those  over 28 were given a first class rating. Those person- nel who enlisted directly into the rating were sent to   a   training   station   for   naval   indoctrination before being assigned duties with a chaplain. The Bureau of Naval Personnel ruled against Specialists   (W)   serving   aboard   ship.   It   was decided that they would be used only within the limits  of  the  continental  United  States  and  at selected  overseas  bases.  RPs  today  are  afforded a  greater  variety  of  duty  assignments  including serving aboard numerous types of naval vessels. The   possibility   of   having   Specialists   (W) assigned throughtout the Naval Shore Establish- ment  was  greeted  with  enthusiasm  by  Navy chaplains.  Because  of  the  constant  transfer  of personnel, chaplains had found it extremely dif- ficult  to  maintain  qualified  musicians  at  their commands.  The  assignment  of  Specialists  (W) helped   to   solve   this   problem   and   chaplains throughout  the  Navy  hastened  to  help  qualified applicants  become  Specialists  (W). Selection and Training of Specialists Most of the applicants for Specialist (W) had backgrounds   as   music   teachers,   professional musicians, or   as   church   ministers-of-music. Many were also graduates of the leading schools of   music   in   the   country.   Initially,   these specialists  received  their  training  directly  from the chaplains; however, this system proved to be inadequate.  In  the  fall  of  1942  as  part  of  an 1-9